On 30 April 1980, Beatrix became Queen of the Netherlands when her mother abdicated. In domestic matters, she has little political say; however, in international relations, the Queen has much more latitude. In 1994, the minister of Foreign Affairs conveyed in Parliament that a Dutch embassy in Jordan had been opened at her request.On 6 October 2002, the Queen's husband, Prince Claus died after a long illness. A year and a half later, her mother died after a long battle with senile dementia, while her father succumbed to cancer in December 2004.On 29 April and 30 April 2005, she celebrated the 25th anniversary of her reign. She was interviewed on Dutch television, was offered a concert on Dam Square in Amsterdam, and a celebration took place in The Hague, the country's seat of government.

Queen Beatrix and President Vladimir Putin during his state visit to the Netherlands in 2005

Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange (Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born 27 April 1967) is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied history at Leiden University. Prince Willem-Alexander is currently interested in international water management issues and sports. He married Princess Máxima in 2002. They have three daughters Princess Catharina-Amalia (born 2003), Princess Alexia (born 2005), and Princess Ariane (born 2007).

The civil marriage ceremony of Princess Máxima and Prince Willem-Alexander in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam in 2002

Dutch Queen Beatrix inspects the honor guard on arriving in Oranjestad, Aruba, on Oct. 28, 2011. The queen, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima started a 10-day official visit to the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Dutch Queen Beatrix, sporting a yellow hat, and Crown Prince Willem-Alexander take a boat trip through the mangroves in the nature park of Lac Cai, as part of a state visit to Bonaire and other Dutch Caribean islands.